Umbrella company Hartley White Ltd was hit with a winding up petition on 2 March 2026 after racking up a £742,711 HMRC bill.

The statement of affairs from London based insolvency experts Antony Batty & Co showed that Hartley White Ltd owed £477,768 in PAYE and national insurance contributions, and £264,943 in VAT. The only other item on the creditors’ list was a £45,874 director’s loan.

Before liquidation, Hartley White’s FY24 accounts for year end 31 July showed the payroll business owed £347,476 to HMRC.

Hartley White had 104 staff and was based at the Union Building on Rose Lane in Norwich.